. • Data returned by local authorities indicates that 111,574 children were accessing funded ELC as of the end of January 2022. • Of these, 97% were accessing more than 600 hours, and 88% were accessing the full 1140 hours funded ELC. • Every council reported an increase between 6% and 26% in numbers of 2-5-year-olds accessing funded ELC compared to August 2021. • There has been an increase of 16% in the numbers of eligible 2s accessing funded ELC, rising from 5,966 children in August 2021 to 6,913 in January 2022. • There has been an increase in the local authority ELC workforce of 549 FTE rising from 17,515 FTE in August 2021 to 18,064 FTE in January 2022. • Further workforce increases are expected, with a further 593 FTE expected to be in place in April 2022. • Funded providers in the private and voluntary sectors and childminders provide 31% of all funded provision. • As of February 2022, there were 913 projects in the capital programme, 85% of which are now complete. 4 | Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Background and Context The duty on local authorities to secure 1140 hours funded ELC for all eligible children has been in effect since 1st August 2021.